Arizona Candidate Says She Was Assaulted While Fixing Sign

Bernadette GreenePlacentia, a Democratic candidate for Arizona’s 8th Congressional District, says a man sexually assaulted her after striking her from behind while she was repairing a campaign sign in August. The Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office said its investigation remains open; authorities have not publicly identified a suspect or established a motive. GreenePlacentia described the alleged attack in an interview published October 7. She said it happened shortly after 2 a.m. as she walked across a parking lot to fix a damaged sign. She recalled being hit on the head and losing consciousness, then waking to find a man on top of her. She also recalled a second man approaching and trying to move her leg before leaving after she kicked at him. Her memory of the incident and what followed is fragmented, she said. GreenePlacentia recalled hearing words she thought might refer to Democrats, but said she could not be certain what was said. That uncertain recollection does not establish a political motive.